Portable barrel plating unit



0d. 3, 1967 w, JENKS 3,345,282

' PORTABLE BARREL PLATING UNIT I Filed Aug. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR CARL vv JENKS AT TO RNEYS Oct. 3, 1967 c. w JENKS PORTABLEBARREL PLATI NG UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1964 FIG-4 I v QUnited States Patent 3,345,282 PURTABLE BARREL PLATING UNIT Carl W.Jenks, 1131 Gstrander, La Grange Park, 111. 60525 Filed Aug. 10, 1964,Ser. No. 388,432 Claims. (Cl. 204213) My invention relates to a portablebarrel platting unit, and more particularly, to an electroplating barrelunit that comprises a self-contained portable electroplating barrel orcylinder device which may be utilized in connection with standard barrelplating equipment.

Barrel plating units of the type to which the invention relatesgenerally comprise a frame in which the plating barrel or cylinder isrotatably mounted, with the unit as a whole, when in use, beingsuspended within a plating tank so as to dispose the barrel in asubmerged position in the plating liquid.

These units have conventionally included several contact arms that arefixed to the frame for contact with a cathode bar disposed at one sideof the tank.

It frequently happens that one or the other of these contact arms doesnot make good contact with the cathode bar, and also, cathode bars maybe at different elevations with respect to the tank rim in differentinstallations in which the portable barrel units may be used, with theresult that the barrel unit frame may be cocked off its desiredvertically disposed operating position with accompanying adverseresults.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a portable barrelplating arrangement in which the desired vertically disposed operatingposition and desired contact of both contact arms are assured in spiteof the varied cathode bar positions that may be encountered in practice.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a contact armarrangement for portable barrel plating units that permits the same unitto be used for both forward and center or overhead contact arrangements.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide a simplified unitaryframearrangement for portable barrel plating units, to provide a uniquebarrel journalling arrangement for portable barrel unit frames'thatpermits the barrel to be readily removedfrom the unit, and to provide aportable barrel plating unit that is economical of manufacture,convenient and efiicient in use, and readily adapted for application toexisting plating installations.

Other objects, uses and advantages will be obvious or become apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a specific embodiment ofthe portable barrel comprising my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental cross-sectional view taken along line 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental side elevational view of the unit shown inFIGURE 1, taken from the right hand side of FIGURE 1, and showingdiagrammatically how the unit may be applied to cathode bars ofdifferent heights;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3, but showing the unitemployed in a center or overhead contact arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4, but shows the unit of FIGURE 4suspended within a conventional plating liquid tank; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but shows the unit applied to aconventional plating tank in connection with a forwardcontactarrangement.

' However, it is to be understood that the specific drawplating unit ingillustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with therequirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, and that the invention may take otherspecific embodiments.

Reference numeral 10 of FIGURE 1 generally indicates a specificembodiment of my portable barrel plating unit invention, which comprisesa frame 12 journaling a plating barrel or cylinder14 for rotation abouta substantially horizontal axis, a contact assembly 16 comprising a pairof contact bars 18 pivoted to frame 12 as by pins 20, and a suitabledrive arrangement generally indicated at 22 for rotating the platingbarrel or cylinder 14.

In accordance with this invention, the contact bars 18 are pivoted as at20 to the frame 12, and are provided with contact notches or areas 24 atlike ends 26 to provide electrical contact in the forward contactposition shown in FIGURES 3 and 6.

Also, contact bars 18 are joined together at their contact forming ends26 by resiliently flexible cross bar member 28 which is in the form of aU-shaped member defining depending ends 30 that are applied to the ends26 of the cross bars 18 to extend outwardly of the respec tive crossbars in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 36.

The ends 30 and the cross bar ends 26 define contact notches or areas 32that in accordance with my invention adapt my unit for the central oroverhead contact arrangement shown in FIGURE 4, this being done bymerely pivoting the contact assembly 16 to the position of FIGURE 3 andhooking the ends 26 over the cathode bar.

Frame 12 generally comprises a pair of spaced side frames 40 and 42 ofrectangular configuration joined together at the ends 44 and 46 of theunit by cross tie members or bars 48.

The lower ends of the side frames 40 may be flanged as at 50 to provideadequate fioor bearing surface when the frame 12 is resting on the flooror the like, and the upper ends 52 may be flanged as at 54 to serve as asupport for a cover 56 (see FIGURE 1) of a suitable motor housing 58that is built into frame 12 between the side frames 4 and 42 to supportand house motor device 22.

The side frames 40 and 42 and cross tie member 48 are preferablyfabricated from steel bars or the like to define an integrally unitedframework that is provided with a suitable coating 60 (see FIGURE 2)that is electrically insulating and plating liquid-resisting incharacteristics.

The plating barrel or cylinder 14 is conventional in construction and isjournalled in any appropriate manner, as by conventional tubular bearingdevices 61, in end panels 62 for rotation under the driving action ofmotor device 22, which drives same through appropriate gearing of aconventional type that is generally indicated at 64. Gearing 64 mesheswith agear 66 that is fixed to one end of the barrel or cylinder 14.

As indicated in the drawings, end panels 62 are preferably secured tothe vertical barv members 68 of the respective side frames 40 and 42 bysuitable bolts 70 which extend into the end panels from the outwardlyfacing surfaces 72 of the side frame vertical bars 68. This permits theentire barrel unit including the end panels 62 to be removed from frame12 by merely detaching the bolts 70 of both of the end panels 62.

The respective contact bars 18 are pivotally secured to the respectivecross tie members 48 of frame 12 (see FIGURE 2) by journalling them on athreaded stud (see FIGURE 2) that forms pin 20 and is received throughan electrically insulating sleeve or bushing 82 mounted in anappropriate opening 84 formed in the respective cross tie members 48.

Also received over each stud 80 is an electrical contact dangler lug 86of cable 88 that leads the respective hearing devices 61 to therespective electrodes within the a rel or cylinder 14.

A nut 90 turned up against insulating Washer 92 completes the pivotassembly for the respective contact arms or bars 18.

The insulating sleeve or bushing 82 and washer 92 may be formed from anysuitable electrical insulating material.

Bars or arms 18 are formed from a good electrical conductive materialsuch as copper or the like and preferably have substantially the shapeindicated in the drawings to define the notches 24, 32 and perforation94 through which the threaded stud 80 passes.

The cross bar 28 is likewise formed from copper and is fixed to therespective contact bar ends 26 in any suitable manner, as by Welding.

The contact assembly 16 comprising the contact bars or arms 18 and thecross bar 28 is preferably covered with a'suitable electrical insulatingcoating, such a olyvinyl chloride, except in the areas of notches 24 and32 and at the contact positions 96 where lugs 86 make contact with therespective contact bars or arms 18. These latter positions are left barefor good electrical contact purposes.

It may be added that the pivotal connection arrangement shown in FIGURE2 is identical at the left hand side of the unit as shown in FIGURE 1.

As indicated, the cross bar member 28 of the contact assembly 16 isapplied to the ends 26 of contact bars or arms 18 at an angle on theorder of 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the bars 18 to definethe contact area 32.

In operation, if the unit 12 is to be applied to the forward contactposition of FIGURE 6, after the barrel or cylinder is appropriatelyfilled and closed, through the usual door 100, the unit is picked up andlowered over a plating liquid tank 102 (see FIGURE 6) so that the frame12 enters the liquid and the contact arms or bars 18 extend more or lesshorizontally over the edges 104 and 106 of the tank, with the contactarea or notch 24 substantially aligned with the cathode bar 108 of asuitable apparatus that is indicated in blocked diagram form as a wholeat 110.

The unit is then lowered until the ends 27 of the contact bars 18 reston the tank edge 106 and the notches 24 of ends 26 rest on the cathodebar.

After the anode device is appropriately applied to tank 102, the platingunit may be operated in the usual conventional manner, rotation of thebarrel or cylinder 14 being achieved by using appropriate switch arm 112to actuate motor device (after the latter has been connected to asuitable source of power).

The resiliently flexible nature of cross bar 28 permits the weight ofthe unit to firmly seat both contact areas or notches 24 of contact barsor arms 18 against the cathode bar.

Furthermore, the pivotal connection between the contact bars or arms andthe unit frame 12 insures that the frame 12 will be disposed in itsdesired vertical position even though the cathode bar might be atdifferent heights with respect to the upper edge of the plating liquidtank, as depicted in FIGURE 3. In the broken line position of FIGURE 3it is assumed that the contact bars or arms at their ends 27 are held bya suitable supplementary support 114, but in any event it will be notedthat the frame 12 will have its desired vertically disposed position ineither position of the contact assembly 18.

In the event that the device 10 is to be applied to a center contactsituation in which the cathode bar 108A (see FIGURES 4 and 5) ispositioned over the plating tank 102A, it is only necessary to pivot thecontact assembly to substantially the vertical position of FIGURES 4 and5 and then hook the contact assembly over the cathode bar 108A tosuspend the entire unit within tank 102A with the barrel immersed in theliquid. The plating o eration may then proceed in the usual andcustomary manner.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a novel portable barrelplating unit incorporating a contact assembly that is readily adapted toboth center and forward contact situations, and that insures that goodcontact with the cathode bar will be made by both contact arms and thatthe barrel frame will be in its proper vertically disposed operatingposition.

The unitized frame is of simplified and efficient design and permitsready application thereto of the end panels in which the plating barrelor cylinder is journalled. And, as already indicated, the plating barrelis readily removed as a unit from the frame by merely detaching the endpanels from the unit side frame members.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate my invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be ableto make modifications and variations therein without departing from thescope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electroplating barrel unit comprising:

an electroplating barrel,

frame means for journalling said barrel for rotation about asubstantially horizontal axis,

and a contact assembly secured to said frame means,

said contact assembly comprising:

a pair of contact arms pivotally secured to said frame inter-mediatetheir respective ends on either side of said frame means for pivotalmovement about a substantially horizontal axis,

said arms each having a forward electrical contact area formed thereonat like ends of each,

and a flexible mem ber connecting said ends of said arms together.

2. In an electroplating barrel unit of the type including a barreljournalled in a frame for rotational movement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, which barrel in its operative position is suspended inthe plating solution, the improvement wherein:

said unit includes a contact assembly secured thereto for pivotalmovement about a substantially horizontal axis,

said contact assembly comprising:

a pair of contact arms pivotally secured to said frame on either side ofsaid frame for pivotal movement about the last mentioned horizontalaxis,

said arms being secured to said frame intermediate their respectiveends,

said arms having a sufiicient length so that when horizontally disposed,both ends of each project outwardly of said frame,

said arms each having a forward electrical contact area formed at likeends of each arm for contact with a cathode bar,

and a flexible tie [member connecting said ends of said arms together,

whereby said barrel may be suspended in a container of plating liquid byresting said contact arm contact areas on a cathode bar at one side ofthe container and resting the other ends of the bars on the other end ofthe container.

3. The improvement set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said contact arms at said like ends thereof are formed with hook meansdefining electrical contact areas for contact with a cathode barpositioned above the container,

whereby said unit may be suspended in the liquid by hanging same fromthe last tmentioned cathode bar.

4. In an electroplating barrel unit of the type including a barreljournalled in a frame for rotational movement about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, which barrel in its operative position is suspended inthe plating solution, the improvement wherein:

said frame comprises a pair of spaced side frames joined together ateach end of the frame by a cross tie member,

an end frame member extending across each end of the frame below therespective cross tie members,

said end frame members being secured to the respectibe side frames ateach end of the frame,

said barrel being journalled in said end framm for rotation about saidaxis,

a pair of contact arms each pivotally secured to the respective crosstie members for pivotal movement about an axis paralleling saidhorizontal axis,

said arms being secured for said pivotal movement intermediate theirrespective ends,

said arms each having a length such that when they are aligned with saidcross ties, both ends of each project outwardly of said side frames,

said arms each having a forward electrical contact area formed at likeends of each for contact with a cathode bar,

and a flexible tie member connecting said ends of said arms together,

whereby said barrel may be suspended in a container of plating liquid byresting said contact arm contact areas on a cathode bar at one side ofthe container and resting the other ends of the bars on the other end ofthe container.

5. The improvement set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said contact arms at said like ends thereof are formed with hook meansdefining electrical contact areas for contact with a cathode barpositioned above the container,

whereby said unit may be suspended in the liquid by hanging same fromthe last mentioned cathode bar,

6. The improvement set forth in claim 4 wherein:

means for detachably securing said end frame members to said side frameswhereby said end frames and barrel may be removed from said frame as aunit.

7. The improvement set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said side frames and said cross tie members are integrally unitedtogether.

8. The improvement set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said flexible tie member comprises:

a U-shaped member formed from a resiliently flexible material,

with the legs of said U-shaped member being secured to the respectivecontact arm ends to define said hook means.

9. The improvement set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said side frame members and said cross tie members having a coating ofelectrically insulating material covering same except at said contactareas.

10. The improvement set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said contact arms are pivotally mounted on said cross ties byelectrically insulating bushings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1957 Italy.11/ 1963 Great Britain.

JOHN H. MACK, Primary Examiner.

W. VAN SISE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTROPLATING BARREL UNIT COMPRISING: AN ELECTROPLATING BARREL,FRAME MEANS FOR JOURNALLING SAID BARREL FOR ROTATION ABOUT ASUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, AND A CONTACT ASSEMBLY SECURED TO SAIDFRAME MEANS, SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A PAIR OF CONTACT ARMSPIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID FRAME INTERMEDIATE THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS ONEITHER SIDE OF SAID FRAME MENS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT ASUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID ARMS EACH HAVING A FORWARDELECTRICAL CONTACT AREA FORMED THEREON AT LIKE ENDS OF EACH